2024 Non Series Sermons
What is Your Why?
May 19, 2024 • Bob Petterson • Philippians 3:10–11
Mark Twain wrote, “The two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out.” What is your why? Why were you born? Why are you on this earth? Most people drift aimlessly on seas of uncertainty, oarless, rudderless, without map, compass, or a port to call home. Our ancestors navigated by fixed stars, but too many folks today chase after the lights of passing ships. St. Paul had a purpose statement in Philippians 3:10&11. It gave direction, the fuel to get there, and a way to measure his progress. I. Do you have a purpose statement of two or three lines that you could state at a moment’s notice? II. What are the marks of a purpose that is worthy of both today and eternity? III. What do you or others pursue that won’t go beyond the grave? IV. Is the purpose statement of Paul good enough for you to take as your own” V. What action steps do you need to take going forward?
Baptized Into Mission
March 17, 2024 • Greg Blosser • Isaiah 43:1–4
Over and over in scripture we see God bring his people safely through frightening ordeals. But rather than bringing them into a life of comfort and complacency, the people frequently seem to land somewhere far outside their comfort zone, with a mission to claim the victory God has already guaranteed. This dynamic continues in our lives and churches today. God gives the church the sacrament of baptism to tell Christians we are safe, loved, redeemed and released into a life of mission for Christ. Questions: 1. In Isaiah 43:1-4 how many reasons does God give us to “fear not”? What are they? 2. How does the love of God propel Christians into a lifestyle of mission? 3 .Where in your own life do you see the temptation to complacency? Consumerism? 4 .What might happen if Christians don’t respond to the call to plant churches? What might happen if we do? 5. Acts 9:31 describes comfort from God in the midst of church planting mission. How do we reconcile this with Jesus’s call to “take up your cross”? 6. Will you prayerfully consider how God may be calling you out of your comfort zone to support the church plant?
The Divine Appointment - Mission Fest 2024
January 28, 2024 • Brent Whitefield • Acts 8:26–39
The Acts 8 episode of Philip and the Ethiopian official is the story of a divine appointment. It was not by chance that they met on the Gaza road – God arranged the encounter. While this is an extraordinary event, it is not unprecedented. God is even today in the business of arranging divine appointments – for those who are qualified, prepared, and willing to answer them. I. Philip was both qualified, prepared, and willing to lead a man to conversion. II. The normative mode of Gospel transmission is by speaking and hearing… and one-on-one is the ideal. III. Those Christians who are qualified, prepared, and willing can expect divine appointments like the one Philip received. Discussion points: 1. The Ethiopian man was, for more than one reason, excluded from ‘the assembly of the Lord.’ What is the reason for this exclusion? 2. Why do you suppose God chose Philip for this assignment? 3. Why do you think God chose the Ethiopian to receive this extraordinary messenger and message? 4.Working from the same passage (Is. 53) that the Ethiopian official read, make the connection between the prophet’s words and Christ the Messiah. 5. Reflect on your own conversion. How were you guided into an understanding of the Scripture and the Gospel message? 6. Have you ever been on either the going or receiving end of a divine appointment? How do you know that is what it was?